Pain Relief After Spinal Fusion and Disc Herniations

Elaine,

What has been your experience working with individuals with persistent back
or neck pain after a spinal fusion? Those with known disc herniations ? Do
you limit them or treat them differently? Do you require a referral from
their treating providers?

Sally Garhart MD
Bedford Occupational and Acute Care
Bedford, NH

Dear Sally:

Having a spinal fusion or herniated discs is painful. Pain increases muscle
tension. Increased muscle tension is one of our bodies response to pain. We
cringe. We tighten, we are trying to find a way to almost protect ourselves
from feeling more pain. This of course exacerbates these problems. By using
the method to reduce the tension, a person can begin to breathe. During
their time doing the work they can feel the tight grip they have on their
muscles easing. As a result the pain eases. As a result many of these people
can begin to move which is essential for them to strengthen the areas that
have the difficulty.
Most therapies want a person to exercise but after surgery or when dealing
with areas that hurt, a person does not want to move. They then get more
stiff,muscle tension further exacerbates the problem and they end up with
the cycling of pain.

My experience working with spinal fusions and herniated disc has been
consistently successful because I am not challenging a person to feel more
pain and push thru it. I am first asking them to feel how much they are
resisting movement and holding their breath. As they understand this process
they can begin to let their muscles ease up enough to move. This then allows
them to lengthen and strengthen their muscles. This will relieve the
herniation and improve their overall range of motion. But first they must
spend time understanding the method enough so they feel confident they can
begin to move again without pain.

Hope this helps.

Best

Elaine